"Here is a young protégé of mine who is to see his first action. I must assign him to a post!" Then to Jean: "Have you ever discharged a cannon, lad?" "No!" answered Jean, not a little chagrined at his ignorance. "Well, never mind! Come with me. I'm going to place you as assistant to one of the gunners and you'll soon learn. Don't you desert that cannon, Jean, if it costs you your life to stick by it!" "I will not desert!" Jean promised solemnly. Bonaparte led him through the Rue de Rivoli to the head of the Rue du Dauphin, where a cannon was pointed directly down the street at the steps of the church of St. Roch. To the gunner he said: "Here's a lad to assist you, and learn a little, likewise!" The gunner looked up, and Jean recognised his old acquaintance, Prevôt! "Ah, I know him, General!" answered the gunner, touching his cap. "And a brave one he is, too, as I can prove. He's welcome!" Bonaparte rode away, leaving Jean to exchange reminiscences with his companion. "Yes, I quitted the service of that rascal Coudert," said Prevôt, "right after the Tenth Thermidor, and entered the army where I've been ever since, and have seen some action, I can tell you! But I wish you'd explain to me why you didn't take advantage of that little hint I gave you once!" "Because it would have placed my people in danger," answered Jean, simply. "Well, you're a plucky one! And you certainly did for that old Coudert, so I've been told. They _said_ it was an accident, but I have my suspicions about that! But say! Do you know, that old Coudert, that sneaking La Souris, lodges right up there!" and he pointed to the window of a small house facing on the Rue du Dauphin. "He'll hear fine work to-day,--perhaps he'll see it too. Who knows!" Then he proceeded to explain to Jean the workings of the great gun. All that morning the opposing forces were quiet, except for some light skirmishing, and so it continued into the afternoon. Jean saw no more of Bonaparte, and began to grow restless, wondering if there was really to be any battle. But at four o'clock a roar of musketry from the direction of the Hotel de Noailles was answered by another roar, and the business of the day began! In all his young life, Jean had never witnessed so confusing an affair. He could understand little of what others were doing, but he kept his attention closely on Prevôt, handing him ramrod, cotton or powder, as he directed. The big cannon, with a companion close beside it pointed directly down the short street to the steps of the church which were now crowded with Sectionists. In the windows of the houses all along the street, Sectionists were hiding with their death-dealing muskets. The cannon, however, had not yet been fired. Suddenly up rode Bonaparte.